Jon Barker has been named president and CEO of Sportsman’s Warehouse by its parent company, Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc. The appointment became effective March 31. Barker will direct the marketing, supply chain, operations, compliance and technology functions of the sporting goods chain, according to a release from the company. He will also lead a planned expansion of Sportsman’s ecommerce business, said John Schaefer, CEO of the holding company.
“I have known Jon for almost 20 years and not only is he an excellent retail executive, he is also a passionate user of our products, said Schaefer. “I am very pleased that he is joining Sportsman’s Warehouse at a pivotal time in our growth trajectory when we have reached 77 stores and we believe we still have substantial store expansion opportunity ahead of us. His leadership skills and proven track record of success combined with his extensive knowledge of multi-channel retail and ecommerce make him a perfect fit for Sportsman’s Warehouse. I have no doubt that Jon will quickly bond with and add tremendous incremental value to our existing management team.”
“I am very excited to join Sportsman’s Warehouse and believe that there is a significant opportunity to build upon the successful growth of the company and achieve even greater store and ecommerce expansion in the future,” said Barker. “Sportsman’s Warehouse is well-positioned within the outdoor sporting goods industry with a differentiated shopping environment, unique localization strategy and a breadth of product with important growth opportunities ahead that I am proud to help develop to further strengthen its positioning.”
Barker has 25 years of multi-channel retail experience and held leadership positions with several high-profile retail companies, most recently as vice president and global officer for Walmart. At Walmart, he served in dual roles, including president and CEO of Hayneedle.com, Walmart’s online home furnishings arm, as well as group leader for the home and outdoor furnishings categories for U.S. ecommerce across Walmart.com, Jet.com and Hayneedle.com.
From 2008 to 2013, Barker was chief operating officer of Hayneedle.com, instrumental in building Hayneedle’s supply chain, fulfillment network, care center, customer advocacy and its overall business platform. Prior to Walmart, Barker was senior vice president of distribution and logistics at Cornerstone Brands. He also held various leadership roles in operations and business development for United Parcel Service.